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Four weeks into the 2026 season, the numbers for the Ole Miss defense remain somewhat head scratching.

Despite returning a handful of key players from a defensive unit that finished last season strong and added another talented transfer-portal haul, the No. 9 Rebels (3-1, 1-1 SEC) are currently allowing the most points in the SEC – 30.8 per game – which is tied for 119th nationally. Their 404.8 yards per game allowed is also worst in the SEC and ranks 115th in the FBS. Ole Miss is second-to-last in the conference with just six total sacks (T-96th in FBS), having not collected any in a 52-28 loss at No. 8 Florida last weekend.

Ole Miss has surrendered 93 second-half points through four games, an average of 23.3 per game.

“I think just right now, we just haven’t got that good combination of stacking things. And what I mean by that, consecutive series. And so consistency and execution is what this game is all about to be an elite football team,” Rebels head coach Pete Golding said following the loss in Gainesville. “ … We haven’t been consistent on defense. Whatever 11 guys are out there, whatever positions they’re playing up to this point, and so that’s our responsibility.

“ … There’s still flashes of winning football on that side of the ball, but (there) definitely wasn’t a lot tonight.”

And then there’s the issue of the run defense.

After giving up 302 rushing yards to the Gators, the Rebels are surrendering 194.8 rushing yards per game, which is 126th nationally and worst in the SEC by nearly 70 yards per game. Running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark forced nine combined missed tackles against Ole Miss and had 200 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. Baugh and Clark had seven combined runs of 10 yards or more, and Baugh picked up 11 first downs on his own.

According to PFF, 108 of Florida’s rushing yards came between the center and right guard – the Rebels missed four tackles in this area alone – on just under 10 yards per carry. The Gators averaged nearly 11 yards per carry off the tight end on the right side, and Florida runners forced 10 missed tackles overall. Through four games, Ole Miss defenders have missed 62 tackles (31 in run defense); the Rebels had 163 missed tackles in 15 games in 2025, meaning they’ve missed nearly five tackles more per game this season than a year ago.

“The biggest thing is consistency,” fifth-year linebacker Keaton Thomas said. “I think that everybody’s seen it. When we’re hot we’re hot, and when we’re cold we’re cold. And we need to be swinging and hot from the start. To me, there shouldn’t be any excuse from now on. We’ve played four games. It’s not any more of just dipping your toe in the water to check the temperature. We need to dive in and dominate for four quarters.”

Ole Miss is off this week and plays at Vanderbilt (3-1, 0-1) on Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

“I think with anything, when you’re not very good at it, you have to continue to work at it. (Tackling is) something that we’ve emphasized every week,” Golding said. “ … We definitely have to evaluate that this week.”

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Four weeks into the 2026 season, the numbers for the Ole Miss defense remain somewhat head scratching.

Despite returning a handful of key players from a defensive unit that finished last season strong and added another talented transfer-portal haul, the No. 9 Rebels (3-1, 1-1 SEC) are currently allowing the most points in the SEC – 30.8 per game – which is tied for 119th nationally. Their 404.8 yards per game allowed is also worst in the SEC and ranks 115th in the FBS. Ole Miss is second-to-last in the conference with just six total sacks (T-96th in FBS), having not collected any in a 52-28 loss at No. 8 Florida last weekend.

Ole Miss has surrendered 93 second-half points through four games, an average of 23.3 per game.

“I think just right now, we just haven’t got that good combination of stacking things. And what I mean by that, consecutive series. And so consistency and execution is what this game is all about to be an elite football team,” Rebels head coach Pete Golding said following the loss in Gainesville. “ … We haven’t been consistent on defense. Whatever 11 guys are out there, whatever positions they’re playing up to this point, and so that’s our responsibility.

“ … There’s still flashes of winning football on that side of the ball, but (there) definitely wasn’t a lot tonight.”

And then there’s the issue of the run defense.

After giving up 302 rushing yards to the Gators, the Rebels are surrendering 194.8 rushing yards per game, which is 126th nationally and worst in the SEC by nearly 70 yards per game. Running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark forced nine combined missed tackles against Ole Miss and had 200 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. Baugh and Clark had seven combined runs of 10 yards or more, and Baugh picked up 11 first downs on his own.

According to PFF, 108 of Florida’s rushing yards came between the center and right guard – the Rebels missed four tackles in this area alone – on just under 10 yards per carry. The Gators averaged nearly 11 yards per carry off the tight end on the right side, and Florida runners forced 10 missed tackles overall. Through four games, Ole Miss defenders have missed 62 tackles (31 in run defense); the Rebels had 163 missed tackles in 15 games in 2025, meaning they’ve missed nearly five tackles more per game this season than a year ago.

“The biggest thing is consistency,” fifth-year linebacker Keaton Thomas said. “I think that everybody’s seen it. When we’re hot we’re hot, and when we’re cold we’re cold. And we need to be swinging and hot from the start. To me, there shouldn’t be any excuse from now on. We’ve played four games. It’s not any more of just dipping your toe in the water to check the temperature. We need to dive in and dominate for four quarters.”

Ole Miss is off this week and plays at Vanderbilt (3-1, 0-1) on Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

“I think with anything, when you’re not very good at it, you have to continue to work at it. (Tackling is) something that we’ve emphasized every week,” Golding said. “ … We definitely have to evaluate that this week.”

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos